We were sort of in a hurry to plant this little box at night on our way into the mountains of Idaho recently (Sept 2005). Pete had carved a reverse image of the EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) logo of camping out by moonlight, so we thought we'd plant it out in some western mountains. Little did we know that we'd have so many great camping spots to choose from! We picked a rather non-descript site just about halfway between mile 86 and 87 on the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Highway, thinking that this could become a kind of "Beldin Box" with other letterboxers moving it to their favorite campground and writing up new clues along the way. Then we thought that maybe a less scenic site was better after all, with less likelihood of the box going missing, so here I guess is where it's going to stay camped out!

Find the large pull off at mileage point 86.5 off route 21 between Lowman and Stanley, a couple of hours drive from Boise or Twin Falls. There is a road sign marking this spot as a designated primitive camping area, and a large rock at the northeastern end of the pull off. From the other end of that parking area, take the dirt road south a short distance to a "No Garbage" sign, then turn left and walk to a rock pile blocking the old side road. Look under the northernmost rock of this grouping (left side closest to the parking area), in a south facing natural cave behind a few small stones. Hopefully you will find "just what the doctor ordered"!

Mt. Borah was one of the focal points of our recent trip to Idaho. We had done most of the other state highpoints (44 "summits", 4 "close approaches") when we were first married, leaving only Idaho and Alaska, so we thought we should at least make an attempt on this one while we were out there. Besides there already was a letterbox a the trailhead, so why not encourage other letterboxers to climb up a little further?

To reach the trailhead, drive about 3.5 miles up the dirt road east off of route 93 about 10 miles north of MacKay, passing the fault zone caused by the 1983 earthquake roughly 3 miles up, and a few campsites very near the dead end trailhead. Head east up the well defined trail through the grasslands until you start reaching the trees in a little valley. Pass a fire ring on the right next to a large Douglas fir tree, then a fire ring on the left, and then a large double fir tree on the left. About 10 steps up from the double trunk fir, find a group of boulders also on the left side of the trail. Under the northwest side of the largest rock, carefully tucked behind 2 small white stones, covered by a larger gray rock and currently draped with a piece of driftwood, the little "RI Red Chicken" quietly awaits visitors. Please repack her in snugly so that she can wait out a few winters until we try to get back there to go further up "Chicken-out Ridge" (it's only about another 3 steep miles with about a miles of elevation gain!).

Hope you enjoy he views on the way back down!

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